Travel e-Scapes: January 10, 2017

DESTINATION & DEAL OF THE DAY: Malaysia

NEVER LOWER! Round-trip from Atlanta:
$478 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
No advance purchase required — go as soon as this week
Depart by May 13 or August 16-November 20
Add $35 per direction for Thursday-Saturday outbound and/or Friday-Sunday returns
A 7-night minimum stay required; four months max
Valid on Qatar Airways via Doha
One free stopover permitted
Purchase by January 16
Note: Rates are just $10 higher on May 14-June 10; July 4-August 14 and November 21-December 7 departures
Photo: Cameron Highlands

TRAVEL TIPS & TIDBITS

New Alaska Air AmenitiesAlaska Airlines is debuting a complimentary new service to help fliers stay connected with friends and loved ones on the ground. Guests on Alaska’s Gogo-equipped flights can use iMessage, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger to send greetings from 35,000 feet – free.
Additional new amenities launching this month:Free movies: To celebrate its recent merger with Virgin America, Alaska is offering free, unlimited access to its entire catalog of entertainment available to stream on guests’ devices, including Hollywood movies and popular TV shows through March 31.Upgraded food and beverage options: Guests will begin to see new food and drink options on the snack and beverage cart, including new premium wines from Washington State’s award-winning Chateau Ste. Michelle, new premium craft beer, bourbon and sparkling wine from La Marca.Premium Class: Alaska’s new class of service has debuted on select routes. In addition to four extra inches of legroom, passengers seated in Premium Class enjoy early boarding and complimentary snacks and alcoholic beverages.
More than 40% of Alaska’s fleet has been retrofitted with the new section, and by year-end, more than 90% will feature this new class of service.Upgrades to Premium Class range from $15 to $79, in addition to base fares, and can be purchased at the time of booking through alaskaair.com or Alaska’s mobile app, during check-in, and at the airport.

New Southwest Airline Routes
Think summer vacation! Southwest Airlines is bringing its iconic brand and low fares to new destinations to cities from coast-to-coast, and the Caribbean starting on June 4. Get a jump on the low one-way introductory rates as the carrier extends its bookable flight schedule through August 14.
New nonstop routes effective June 4:
Cleveland (replaces Akron-Canton) – Atlanta (one-way from $69)
Ft. Lauderdale – Belize (one-way from $79)
Ft. Lauderdale – Cancun (one-way from $89)
Ft. Lauderdale – Grand Cayman Island
Ft. Lauderdale – Montego Bay, Jamaica (one-way from $99)
Ft. Lauderdale – Nassau, Bahamas
Ft. Lauderdale – Havana, Varadero, and Santa Clara, Cuba
New service on routes varies from daily, twice-daily, weekend-only to seasonal.
One-way rates are valid on purchases made by January 26 for June 4-August 14 travel. Blackout dates: June 30-July 9. Southwest Airlines is currently offering one-way rates from $44 to Ft. Lauderdalefrom Atlanta during the systemwide sale.

SPECIAL DOMESTIC & INTERNATIONAL OFFERS

Airfare offers – ones with a ticket-by date – and deals with our suggestion to ‘Hurry!’ can expire at any time. Heed Clark’s advice: Buy that great airfare deal – and then figure out a reason to go there! Eventually, you’ll see the world at a fraction of the normal price!

HURRY! Round-trip from Atlanta (one-way permitted):
$186 Austin TX, or $93 each way
A 21-day advance purchase required
Valid Tuesday or Wednesday on Delta, nonstop
Finish trips on or before May 24

HURRY! Round-trip from Atlanta (one-way permitted):
$192 Salt Lake City, or $96 each way
$192 Tucson, or $96 each way
$192 Orange County-Santa Ana CA, or $96 each way
A 21-day advance purchase required
Valid Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday on American via Dallas or Phoenix
Finish trips on or before May 24
Blackout dates: March 11, 12, 17-19; April 8, 9, 23; May 14, 21

Round-trip from Atlanta (one-way permitted):
$256 Lubbock TX, or $128 each way
$332 Santa Barbara or Monterey CA, or $166 each way
$346 Amarillo TX, or $173 each way
$360 San Jose CA, or $180 each way
$380 Portland OR, or $190 each way
$394 Boise or Reno NV, or $197 each way
$404 San Diego, or $202 each way
A 14-day advance purchase required
Not valid Friday or Sunday
Finish trips on or before May 24
Blackout dates: March 11, 12, 17-19; April 8, 9, 23; May 14, 21
Valid on American via Dallas or Phoenix
United matches to most destinations
Purchase by January 26

NOTE: Airline fees can and often do exceed the cost of your flight! Additional charges now apply to budget and sale rates on most airlines for a carry-on bag, checked baggage and advance seat assignments. The least expensive fees are charged when these options are purchased during the ticket booking process. Fees climb higher after flights are reserved and even higher when adding these options at airport check-in. Kayak offers the most up-to-date Fees Chart for all domestic and international airlines.

How do you find these great airfare deals? Visit Clark’s Atlanta Travel Tips page for a step-by-step guide.

SPECIAL HOTEL & RESORT OFFERS

Romance Your Valentine
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, hotels and resorts across Florida are planning extravagant packages and deals to entice lovers to visit for the holiday.

Reunion Resort in Orlando has a package that includes one-bedroom villa accommodations, champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries upon arrival, breakfast for two daily and $50 resort credit per night. From $258 per couple, per night. reunionresort.com

Pelican Grand Beach Resort in Ft. Lauderdale is offering a one-bedroom oceanfront suite with private balcony, three-course dinner for two in the OCEAN2000 restaurant, a bottle of champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries and breakfast for two. From $489 per night on stays through February 29. PelicanBeach.com

Rosen Centre in Orlando has two different overnight stay packages for Valentine’s Day. The ‘Be My Valentine’ package is $279 per night and includes a four-course wine pairing dinner at Everglades restaurant, buffet breakfast for two the next morning at Café Gauguin and complimentary valet parking. The ‘Sweet Couple’s Retreat’ package includes two 50-minute Swedish massage treatments at The Spa at Rosen Centre, a four-course wine pairing dinner at Everglades restaurant, complimentary valet and access to the fitness center, $499 per night. Both packages available February 12-14. rosencentre.com

Stay at Streamsong Resort (48 miles east of Tampa) on February 13 at a rate of $350 per night, including accommodations in the lakeside lodge, a five-course dinner with wine pairings, champagne upon arrival, breakfast for two and late check-out. Dinner only price is $125, plus gratuity. streamsongresort.com

Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Miramar Beach is offering a package that includes early check-in and pre-registration, sparkling wine or cider upon arrival, daily access to the resort spa, daily breakfast for two, late check-out and a buy-one-get-one free entree at the Sandcastles Restaurant. Rates from $244. hiltonsandestinbeach.com

The Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Resort & Spa in Riviera Beach is offering an ‘Ultimate Romance’ package, including a signature couples massage with a glass of champagne at SiSpa, a $50 dining credit to be used at one of the resort’s three restaurants, breakfast daily and an in-room movie. The package starts at $479 per night. The resort also offers a ‘Couples Getaway’ package from $334 that includes a cheese tray and one bottle of champagne upon arrival, breakfast for two and vouchers for two cocktails daily. marriott.com

The Resort at Longboat Key Club offers the ‘Up Your Game’ package, including unlimited golf, unlimited tennis and daily one-hour use of stand-up paddle boards, kayaks or boogie boards per registered guest. From $359 per night. longboatkeyclub.com

Plantation on Crystal River‘s romance package includes one night of lodging in a water view room, chocolate-covered strawberries, champagne, rose petal turndown service and a spa bathrobe gift. From $338 per night. plantationoncrystalriver.com

Hotel Victor in Miami Beach offers a romance package for February 1-29 stays. Included are superior king room accommodations, a bottle of Prosecco and chocolate-covered strawberries. From $209 on Sunday-Thursday arrivals; $299 Friday or Saturday. hotelvictorsouthbeach.com

Hammock Beach resort on the Palm Coast has a ‘Perfectly Paired Romance’ package that offers couples either breakfast in bed or at the Atlantic Grille, champagne and fruit and a couples massage. Rates from $145. hammockbeach.com

Escape to North Michigan
Michigan’s popular Traverse City resort area is offering visitors a ‘Traverse City True Escape’ package that combines special rates at participating hotels and resorts with discounts on winter recreation, shopping, dining and entertainment. Even during winter months, everything people love about Traverse City is open for biz — its great restaurants, charming downtown boutiques, wine tastings, and outdoor recreation. Best known as a summer vacation destination, the Traverse City region is winning accolades as a magnet for skiers, snowmobilers and snowshoe hikers who consider this one of the country’s most beautiful winter destinations. Budget Travel calls it one of the 11 ‘Coolest Winter Places in America.’
The ‘Traverse City True Escape‘ package is available on stays through May 11.
One example of the deals comes from Lake ‘N Pines Lodge with a two-night package including a bottle of wine, dinner for two (choose from 25 restaurants with a $50 dining certificate), a night at the movies (a $35 certificate to Carmike Movie theaters) and a full, made-to-order breakfast room-delivered. Also included are discount coupons for shopping and dining. Rates from $285 per couple.

Travel e-Scapes is brought to you by Clara Bosonetto, Team Clark Travel Editor. Follow Clara on Twitter.